Summary of sermon by Dietmar Joosten, 01 June 2014
Ex 32:25-2925 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
It wasn’t an easy task. To work against flesh and blood isn’t easy. This was an important time in the history of Israel, Moses writing down what God had commanded him.
Do you understand that we live in front of God and not man?
A certain father and son went stealing together. The father looked left and right to make sure nobody sees them, and then went ahead to steal. His son cautioned him, “dad, you have forgotten to look up”.
When Moses came down from the mountain after he spent a long time alone with God, he heard a noise in the camp. Joshua thought it was the noise of war, but Moses answered that it was the noise of music (Ex 32:17,18). Moses walked with God. He was in tune with God. The time alone with God had changed him to be able to discern.
Children think grandparents don’t see or hear them clearly, but they don’t realize that they see and hear much more than the children think.
Can God speak to you?
Some think they must climb physical mountains like Moses, but it’s a spiritual mountain. And it’s not easy to climb this mountain. When you, father, climb this mountain, your family must climb it with you, and be drawn closer to God. And the devil won’t sit quiet when you ascend this mountain. He will do everything in his power to stop you.
It wasn’t easy to do what the Levites did, but God said to them, ‘by your obedience you have consecrated yourself’. In other words you have set yourself apart.
How many of us are really different, and set apart? Do you allow God to work through your life? Moses went to the tent of meeting to meet with God. We must have times alone to meet with God. Remember Jacob, how he sent his family across the brook, and then he wrestled with God (Gen 32:23-24).
Joshua stayed with Moses. Do you stay with God’s people? Is your life set apart?
It’s written that afterwards God’s Spirit came upon men and women in Israel, and He blessed them. So too through your obedience others will be raised up, blessed and filled with God’s Spirit.
Many a time we don’t receive because we don’t ask. Jesus is waiting. Don’t waste your time. You don’t have because you don’t ask (James 4:2).
Brass Band: 2014-06-01_1brass_band 2014-06-01_2brass_band
Kwasizabantu Choir: 2014-06-01_3ksb_choir 2014-06-01_4ksb_choir
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